NWAC’s Safe Passage Project: Canada’s First Comprehensive Map of MMIWG Cases

The missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) epidemic is a national crisis. Recognizing the magnitude of the crisis, the Canadian government undertook a three-year National Inquiry, resulting in the report “Reclaiming Power and Place” and 231 Calls to Justice on how to stop the violence moving forward. Yet since the Inquiry closed in 2019, little has been done. At the Native Women’s Association of Canada, we’re done waiting. That’s why, last month, we released our own action plan: Our Calls, Our Actions.

Recently, we announced the launch of Safe Passage, which is a key component of our action plan. Safe Passage is a project designed to educate and raise awareness about the MMIWG crisis in Canada. It includes two urgently needed elements – a national database of MMIWG cases and educational tools to bring around transformational change in ending systemic violence.

Database

Safe Passage includes an Indigenous-women led database, utilizing information from a variety of sources to build the first comprehensive map of Canadian MMIWG cases. On our dedicated website, people are able to submit information to NWAC to further populate the map – ensuring we are telling the full story. This collection of information will begin to illustrate the scale of the crisis and be a key tool for future action.

Training to break the cycle

Safe Passage also includes education and awareness training resources developed in partnership with Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, Truckers Against Trafficking, Intertek and Tungasuvvingat Inuit, teaching skills essential to breaking the cycle of violence. For Indigenous community members, we’ve created training materials on how to identify unsafe situations and act in them. We’ve also created educational materials for people working in the transportation and hospitality industries. Transportation routes and hospitality institutions such as hotels and shelters are particularly high risk for Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, so educating those who work in these industries will be key in helping to stop the cycle of violence.

Safe Passage is designed to help people understand the history of colonial violence in Canada so we can work to make our society safer for one another. With the creation of Safe Passage, we’re continuing to meet the actions set out in our action plan – Our Calls, Our Actions. With its creation, we hope to bring people together to understand the full story of the MMIWG crisis, protect the next generation and advocate for a safer future.

To learn more, please visit: safe-passage.ca